Alternatives to Violence Charlotte: A Model for Community-Led Safety and Support

A tale-of-two cities is the common anecdote used in the nonprofit space when describing Charlotte’s economy. Over the last several decades, Charlotte-Mecklenburg has transformed from a small southern town to one of the country’s largest and most dynamic cities. Charlotte continues to attract people—nearly 120 a day—who relocate to take advantage of the strong business climate, favorable weather and geographic location, and a reputable place to live and raise a family. However, this quick transformation has left many individuals and families behind—those who are caught in a widening wage gap, displaced from their homes, and struggling to meet basic needs as they’re pushed out of the neighborhoods they’ve long called home. 

GreenLight Fund Charlotte was created to address the root causes of deep, persistent inequities by identifying and investing in innovative solutions that meet urgent community needs. But what often goes untold are the ripple effects that occur once these solutions take hold. When a GreenLight portfolio organization becomes embedded in the community, the impact doesn’t stop at solving a single problem—it sparks broader change.

As these organizations gain traction and trust, they not only deliver on their mission but also inspire new forms of innovation, deepen local partnerships and strengthen the fabric of the community itself. Residents become more connected. Systems begin to shift. What starts as a focused intervention evolves into a catalyst for lasting, community-driven transformation, proving that meaningful change is not only possible, but contagious.

GreenLight Charlotte, in partnership with Wells Fargo, Mecklenburg County, and the City of Charlotte, launched Alternatives To Violence (ATV) in response to an uptick in violent acts and homicides. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department reported 107 homicides in 2019 and 122 homicides in 2020, making it the deadliest year since 1993. The program aims to reduce violence by 70% over four years.

Alternatives to Violence is an evidence-based violence reduction program based on training provided by Cure Violence Global.  ATV is housed within GreenLight Fund Charlotte’s implementation partner, Youth Advocate Programs (YAP) and led by residents from the community. These trained Violence Interrupters work on the ground to anticipate and redirect threats of violence before they escalate. Embedded within the Corridors of Opportunity, the program focuses on identifying individuals at highest risk and connecting them with tools—educational, emotional, and economic—to help achieve safer, more stable futures.

While ATV was launched to respond to rising violence, its presence has grown into something even more deeply embedded in community life. “We started meeting a lot of people in the community who were telling us about the daily things they needed,” said YAP ATV Program Manager Donnell Gardner. Through relationship-building and consistent neighborhood presence, ATV has become a connector, not just intervening in immediate threats, but helping residents navigate long-term change.

In response to the community’s daily needs, the ATV team transformed their office into a community resource center offering a Community Closet, Youth Bicycle Program and a Reading Program. “The YAP ATV team is here to help identify barriers and help to remove them,” said YAP ATV West Boulevard Outreach Worker Yulonda Johnson. “That’s what we’re all about, helping to reduce violence by keeping young people engaged in other activities.”

The Community Closet is open every other Friday from 3:30 – 6:30pm offering women’s and men’s clothing, baby items, canned foods, household supplies, and children’s toys at no cost. Community residents can shop gently used items donated by churches, organizations and individuals. “It feels amazing to do this for the community,” Johnson said. “I really couldn’t put it into words. People are so excited. They are knocking on the doors every day since we’ve been here. This helps boost the morale of the residents.” With rising costs, the Community Closet helps to remove the uncertainty like being prepared for a job interview or putting food on the table.

In addition to the Community Closet, the resource center offers a range of programs designed to keep both children and adults engaged, learning, and connected. Residents have access to computers with internet and printers- an essential service for those who may not have reliable technology or Wi-Fi at home. As the digital divide continues to impact families, the center provides a vital space for people to pay bills, access healthcare portals, complete homework, and meet daily needs.

The center also fosters a love of reading. Residents can browse the collection, choose a book, and take it home. “Sometimes program participants read to the kids, or a team member will sit down and read with a child,” said Johnson. To encourage literacy, children are rewarded at the end of each month if they read five or more books, which has become a fun incentive that builds excitement and confidence.

“We track what participants are reading so we can follow their progress,” Johnson explained. “Some young adults struggle with reading, but we’re here to support them, not shame them. If they ask for help, we’ll read with them one-on-one.”

All of these offerings- literacy programs, tech access, and personal support- are part of a broader strategy to prevent future challenges by building strong foundations today.

Another need uncovered through violence prevention work was the number of families who could not afford to purchase bikes for their kids. The YAP ATV Bike Program is available to children who live in the community. YAP ATV West Boulevard Violence Interrupter Shawn Moore came up with the idea to provide the service for the neighborhood. Through donations, bikes are available for children to ride for two hours.

 “We allocate time for kids who don’t have a bike,” Gardner said. “The kids get the bike for a couple of hours and bring it back. We work on an honor system. We wanted to add this resource.” Moore works on the donated bikes, and adjusts the seats for the children or fixes them up if required. 

“The bike program is amazing,” Johnson said. “If the kids even think we’re in here, they will come to the door looking for us.” As a testament to the success of this work, in April, a manager at a nearby Walmart heard of ATV’s bike program and donated 10 brand new bikes to the cause.

What began as a focused effort to reduce violence has grown into something far more expansive. The work of ATV is proof that when community-rooted solutions take hold, they create ripples—ones that extend beyond the original goal and into the daily lives of residents. A bike ride becomes a reason to show up. A donated coat becomes a step toward confidence. A book shared becomes the start of a new habit. These moments, while small on their own, build connection, shift norms, and quietly transform a neighborhood. And while GreenLight Fund brought ATV to Charlotte to address urgent needs, the community has turned it into a movement—one that invites all of us to be part of the change, one ripple at a time.